Dispensing pushbutton cap, particularly for aerosol containers

ABSTRACT

A dispensing cap for aerosol containers is disclosed. The dispensing cap has a casing for accomodating a movable pushbutton for the operation of the container valve, the casing is fitted with means for snap coupling to the container, and the pushbutton is movable within an aperture in the casing and provided with means coacting with casing countermeans to restrict the axial movement of the pushbutton in both directions and to prevent any rotation thereof.

United States Patent Giufiredi Apr. 22, I975 1 DISPENSING PUSHBUTTONCAP, 3.2[1680 10/1965 Crowcll ct al. 222/4021 PARTICULARLY FOR AEROSOL3.347.423 lO/l967 Rahn ZZZ/401B X 3.570.723 3/l97l Kotuby 2221402113CONTAINERS 3.64ZJ79 2/[972 Micallcff ZZZ/40213 X [75] Inventor:Giancarlo Giuffredi, Milan Ital 3.738.537 6/[973 Gach 222/4021] X3768.707 10/1973 Nigro .7 222/545 x [73] Ass1gnee: Coster TecnologleSpectah S.p.A.,

Milan. Italy 2 Prmmr LrammerRobert B. Reeves Filed! g- 1973 Assisi-rumExaminer-Frederick R. Handren [2]] Appl. No.: 386,702

[57] ABSTRACT {30] Foreign Apphcauon Prlorny Dam A dispensing cap foraerosol containers is disclosed. 3058/73 The dispensing cap has a casingfor accomodating a movable pushbutton for the operation of the container[52] US. Cl. 222/402J3 valve the casing is fined with means f snapCoupling [5 1] Int. Cl B68d 83/14 to the container and the pushbuuon ismovabk within [58] new of Search 222/401] 4021* an aperture in thecasing and provided with means co- 222/537 acting with casingcountermeans to restrict the axial movement of the pushbutton in bothdirections and to [56] Reierences cued prevent any rotation thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.062411 11/1962 M1115 222/402'13 x l 25 Drawmgfigures PATENTEDAPRZEIQIS $878,976

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saw 12 DF 13 PATENTEUAPRZZIQTS SHEU 13 0F 13 DISPENSING PUSHBUTTON CAP.PARTICULARLY FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS This invention relates to adispensing cap intended to be releasingly coupled to an aerosolcontainer and provided with a movable pushbutton. by means of which thecontainer valve can be operated upon for opening the valve and therebydispensing the aerosol.

Several caps are known as provided with a pushbutton and intended to becoupled to aerosol containers. However. such k'nown caps are generallycomplicated and not always capable of meeting a user's requirementsbecause of the pushbuttons being substantially guided throughout thecontour and length thereof in conduits. with resulting and possible highfriction. and jammings where a misalignment should occur between thepushbutton and valve as due to unavoidable manufacturing inaccuracies.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a dispensingpushbutton cap. free of the drawbacks in the conventional approaches andessentially characterized by comprising a body member. wherein thepushbutton is slidably accomodated along apertures of a limitedextension. and provided with means which. by coacting with eountermeansin the cap body. will limit the axial movement of the pushbutton andprevent it from rotat- According to a first embodiment of the invention.a cap has a body member provided with a collar inside thereofand at itsfree end provided with at least one detent or stop rib for connection tothe container. as well as an aperture into which a pair of opposingpushbutton extensions penetrate. of which extensions one is providedwith a detent for preventing the pushbutton from coming out of the capbody; the aperture at the extensions is shaped as an arc of circle.while being straight at the two opposite parallel sides. so as toinhibit any rotation of the pushbutton which cannot pass through saidaperture as these straight sides intersect the pushbutton contour. Thisembodiment is particularly convenient for application of a safety sealintended to avoid any unauthorized use of a container contents. To thisend. the pushbutton at that portion above the aperture would only needto be provided with a tearable tab as cantilevered projecting from thepushbutton and limiting the downward movement of the pushbutton.

According to another embodiment of the invention. the body member of thedispensing cap is again provided with an inner collar for releaseconnection with a container. the collar connecting to an outer skirt ofthe body member through a step provided with arcuate openings, throughwhich two arcuate opposing extensions are inserted. each of which fittedwith a detent for releasingly engage the countour of said openings.while the pushbutton is confined in its movement in the other directionby its lower contour contacting against said step.

According to still another embodiment, the pushbutton is shaped otherthan circular and. while its upward movement is confined by theprovision of lugs provided with a detent or stop rib. its downwardmovemnt is restricted by the pushbutton countour interferring with thatof the inner collar in the body member of the cap releasingly coupledwith the container.

In still another embodiment, the downward movement of the pushbutton isconfined by fins on the outwardly projecting collar.

According to a still further embodiment of the invention. substantiallyequivalent to the first mentioned em bodiment. the cap may have acantilever projection which is fixed rather than removable and iseffective to restrict the downward movement and rotation about the axisof the pushbutton which passes through an aperture in the body member ofthe cap having a shape corresponding to that of the pushbutton.

The invention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription as given by mere way of not limiting example for someembodiments thereof. reference being had to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGS. I. 2. 3 and 4 are a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 2.a plan view. a view taken in the direction of arrow III of FIG. I. and apartly sectional view taken along line IVIV of FIG. 2. respectively;

FIGS. 5. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show another embodiment of a dispensing capaccording to the invention. and namely a sectional view taken along lineV-V of FIG. 6, a plan view. a view in the direction of arrow VII of FIG.5. a half sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 9, and abottom view. respectively;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5. showing amodified embodiment for the approach shown in FIGS. 5 to 9;

FIGS. I I to 15 show a still further embodiment of the invention andnamely. a sectional view taken along line XI-Xl of FIG. 12, a plan view.a view in the direction of arrow XIII of FIG. 11, a half sectional viewaccording to line XIV-XIV of FIG. 15. and a bottom view. respectively:

FIGS. I6 to 20 show a further embodiment of the invention and namely. asectional view taken along line XVI-XVI of FIG. I7. a plan view. a viewtaken in the direction of arrow XVIII of FIG. 16. a half sectional viewtaken along line XIXXIX. and a bottom view. respectively; and

FIGS. 2| to 25 show a further embodiment of the invention and namely. asectional view taken along line XXI-XXI of FIG. 22. a plan view. a viewin the direction of arrow XXIII of FIG. 21. a half sectional view takenalong line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 25. and a bottom view. respectively.

Referring to FIGS. I-4. wherein a first embodiment of the invention isshown. reference numeral I designates as a whole the cap body member orcasing having an outer skirt 2 and an inner collar 3. Said collar andskirt are of a circular shape. and while the skirt is designed to forman extension for the cylindrical portion of the aerosol container 4,said inner collar 3 has one end thereof provided with a stop rib 5.preferably of interrupted design. so as to avoid the use of undercutpins. resiliently engaging'below the cup 6, conventionally closing theinlet of container 4 and carrying an ordinary valve unit 7, the hollowstem 8 of which is shown. The skirt 2 and collar 3 are interconnected.except for two areas where opposing arcuate openings 9 and II] areprovided. the extensions of the openings being different from each otherand at which said collar 3 is provided with cantilever fins II and I2interposed in the movement path of the pushbutton. designated as a wholeat I3 and passing through an aperture I4 in a wall I5 of cap I, saidwall defining at the bottom a depression ISA of cap I between twosymmetrical side ridges I6 of the cap.

Pushbutton 13 is of a trapezoidal cross-section with two unequal sidesl7 and 18. extending as an arc of circle and connected by two straightsides 19 and 20. Aperture I4 is of a substantially corresponding shape.

At the bottom of said two curvilinear sides I7 and IS. the pushbutton l3has detents 21 and 22 which. by snapping below the two correspondingsides of aperture 14. will prevent pushbutton 13 from unintention allycoming out of said aperture. The pushbutton is forcibly caused to passthrough aperture 14 by taking advantage of the resiliency of thematerial (molded plastic material) comprising it. as well as thedeformability ofthe wall l of cap I also made of molded plasticmaterial.

Pushbutton 13 has an inner hollow extension 23. into which the hollowstem 8 of valve 7 penetrates. The hollow of said extension communicatesthrough pushbutton passages 24 with the dispensing aperture 25 of thenozzle 26 forcibly fitted in an annular seat 27 of pushbutton l3.

Dispensing occurs by simply pressing the pushbutton. as conventional.

Due to the shape of aperture l4 and pushbutton 13. the latter cannotrotate about a vertical axis. Additionally. prior to assembly connectionto container 4. pushbutton cannot move out of cap 1 since ridges 21 and22 will prevent the pushbutton from being removed in one direction.while the abutment of the two curved sides 17 and 18 of the pushbuttonagainst fins 1] and 12 will prevent any movement in the oppositedirection.

It should be noted that the outer edges of fins I1 and I2 are flush orwithin the arcuate sides of aperture I4. so that cap I can be molded byusing molds of a simple construction without any pins or undercut parts.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 59. wherein for designating parts like orcorresponding to those of the above embodiment the same referencenumerals are used. but followed by letter A. it will be seen thatpushbutton I3A is of a trapezoidal shape having two straight sides andtwo unequal sides extending as an arc of circle. Pushbutton 13A isguided in a correspondingly shaped aperture MA. This pushbutton differsfrom the pushbutton of the first embodiment in that the detents 21A and22A are provided at the lower end of two extensions 30 and 31 formingthe continuation of the circle are extending walls 17A and 18A of thepushbutton. Moreover, the inner collar 3A is unprovided with fins I] andI2 at the openings 9A and WA. In this case. the downward movement ofpushbutton 13A within aperture 14A is restricted in that. as clearlyshown in FIG. 9, the two straight sides I9A and 20A of the pushbuttonare interferring with the inner collar 3A at the level of openings 9Aand 10A. It should be also noted that. by having a larger radius ofcurvature than the inner collar 3A. said extensions 30 and 31 can moveoutside of said collar. stop taking place prior to connection tocontainer 4A. when the lower face of straight sides 19A and 20A contactthe bottom edge of the openings 9A and 10 of the inner collar 3A.

The modified embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is substantially identical tothe embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5-9, the only difference being agreater length of pushbutton 138. In the case. this pushbutton may beprovided with a cantilever extension 41 which can be removed prior touse because of being connected to the remaining pushbutton through aweakening portion.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 45 has a pushbutton 13C of a circularcross-section. However. this pushbutton is fitted with two extensionsand 51 developing as an arc of circle. of which extension 51 is providedwith a detent 52 coacting with the correspondingly shaped side 53 of anaperture or hole 54 in cap 1C. Said aperture 54 has two parallelstraight sides 55 and S6 and two sides 53 and 57 extending as an arc ofcircle and of a larger diameter than that of extensions 50 and 51, butsuch however to enable detent 52 to releasingly or snap engage belowside 53. As shown in FIG. 15, the two straight sides 55 and 56 intersectthe edge of pushbutton 13C, which is also laterally provided with acantilever projection 41C comprising a removable tear tab acting toavoid any unauthorized use of the contents of container 4C.

The provision of detent 52 snap or releasingly engaging below the side53 of aperture 54 prevents the pushbutton 54 from exiting in onedirection. while the provision of extensions 50 and 51 inhibits therotation of the pushbutton by abutting against the straight walls 55 and56, and because of the latter intersecting the pushbutton edge. an axialmovement of the pushbutton is avoided in the opposite direction to saidone direction. Pushbutton 13C is coupled to cap 1C by forcing extension51 in aperture 54, taking advantage of the plastic material resiliency.until the projection 52 snaps below said side 53.

Of course. the removable tab 41C is provided at a level such as to avoidlowering of pushbutton ISC to the location where the contents ofcontainer 4C is dispensed.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16-20. a cap ID is providedwith an aperture or hole 60 having a circular contour as well as saidpushbutton 13D. the latter being unprovided with extensions and having aportion of its lower edge provided with a stop projection 52D similar toprojection 52. At the top of pushbutton l3D a fixed fin M is providedwhich. by abutting against the sidewalls 62 of depression ISD pr-eventspushbutton 13D from rotating and exiting in one direction when the capand pushbutton assembly is disconnected from the container 4D, while anyexiting thereof in the opposite direction is avoided by projection 52D.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. ZI-ZS, the circularly shaped pushbuttonUP is arranged between the two sides 16F of cap IF separated from eachother at two diametrically opposite locations F and HF. The

inner collar 3F is connected to the outer skirt 2F andhas anintermediate step where two arcuate openings 72F and 73F are formed(FIG. 21).

Two arcuate extensions 76 extend through said openings 72F and 73F withan end detent at the lower end of pushbutton I3F. Such detents engagebelow aperture 79 (along which pushbutton 13F is movable), thus actingagainst exiting in one direction. while step 75 prevents the pushbuttonfrom exiting in the opposite direction by interferring with the loweredge thereof.

As extensions 76 are arranged in openings 72F and 73F, the angularextension of which is restricted. a rd tation of pushbutton about itsown axis will be prevented.

Although only some embodiments of the invention have been described.those skilled in the art will now readily devise many changes andmodifications. all of aperture. at least one of said extensions having adetent for engaging said casing adjacent said aperture to restrictmovement of said pushbutton in one direction, said aperture being shapedto enable said extensions to project therein but to restrict movement ofsaid pushbutton in a direction opposite said one direction. the sides ofsaid extensions coacting with the periphery of said aperture to preventrotation of said pushbuttonl

1. A dispensing cap for aerosol containers comprising: a casing havingan aperture and having means for snap coupling said casing to thecontainer; and a movable pushbutton for operation of a valve of thecontainer, said pushbutton being movable within said aperture and havingtwo extensions within said aperture, at least one of said extensionshaving a detent for engaging said casing adjacent said aperture torestrict movement of said pushbutton in one direction, said aperturebeing shaped to enable said extensions to project therein but torestrict movement of said pushbutton in a direction opposite said onedirection, the sides of said extensions coacting with the periphery ofsaid aperture to prevent rotation of said pushbutton.